Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 898 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1s _ wueceed. Come right in, sir,” -. And so ‘‘ Horse Strader ” entered. & .; a a, if I can,” 12 Dea ‘ dwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drive. ed, you know, and he is determined to clear him.’ ‘* And how does he hope to do it?” ‘‘ By finding the guilty one and bringing the proof home to him.” The woman appeared pale, and toyed ner- vously with her fingers as her hands lay in her lap. ‘* And do you think he can do it?” ‘‘He swears he will do it; and, for that ‘matter, so do I,” ‘“*“ You?” ‘* Yes, I! and ‘hide her agitation, though not success- fully. ‘What is the matter with you?” Mc- eee bluntly asked. cerry. he matter?” with an effort to smile. ‘‘ What do you see in me to make you ask?” ‘‘That for the benefit of other ears, Mr. Van Bascomb,” he said, immediately. ‘ believe Iam on track of the guilty one.” ‘* So soon?” “On. - ‘* Who is it?” ‘*T will retain that just for the present [ Your daughter will occupy the same room to-night?” * Certainly.” ‘* And some one will be with her?” ‘‘The housekeeper, and perhaps a neigh- I will not be balked in what I | bor besides.” undertake, without paying back the score.” Her face was pale now, decidedly, but she ‘was doing her best to control her feelings ‘The first-mentioned will be enough.” ‘‘ What do you mean?” ‘*T suspect that another attempt will be made on the young lady’s life to-night, sir, seeing that the first was not success- ful.” ** Good heavens!” ‘* Had you not thought of it?” ‘‘T had not, ‘‘You are pale, nervous, excited; that is | lives, has been enough.” plain.” all. what would life be worth to me?” take my place—”’ ‘‘ Never! as you ought to know. could I love another?” | ‘«Well, I am not getting killed just yet, Sparkler. We'll work together on this mat- ter, you and I, andif we can bring the How ‘‘ Yes, I understand, sir. must know.” The one thought, that she } | That attempt “The thought of danger alarms me, that’s | was not made without an object to gain, you Suppose this murderer should kill you, ‘*But, who can tell what that object ‘‘Pshaw! you would soon find another to | was?” "| can.” ‘* What was it, then?” ‘Just a little time, Mr. Van Bascomb. Now, I purpose staying in this house to-night myself.” assassin down that will give us so much the | shall be glad to have it so.” stronger grip.” ‘* Yes, you are right in saying help you all I can—I will lay own my life for you, if need be.” ‘‘And, sir, along in the evening you that. I will] will secretly remove your daughter from the room she is now in and place her in another. Of course you trust the house- ‘‘T believe you would, But, here’s the | keeper fully.” doctor.”’ | A man was just approaching from the ‘* Certainly.” ‘‘ Well, she is no doubt all right. Then, [ direction of the cottage, and the Mayor of | will take charge of the other room myself, Hardscrabble stopped him. ‘* Well, what is the word?” he asked. and remain there,” ‘And you say you want this done. secret- ‘‘The young lady will live and get well,” | ly?” “was answered, ‘Then she was not so hard hit as was | about it, sir.” | thought at first, eh? That is good.” _ “No, and everything is in her favor. fact, She will be up and around in a few ‘Tg she still in the same room?” asked Sparkler Sal, ‘Yes, in her own room, where she will | door open for me, if you desire.” remain.” ‘*‘ Of course; naturally she would remain there, and yet I thought maybe she would be afraid. But, some one will watch her | he made a further study of the room in which now. Some one should.” Had she a reason for suggesting that? The doctor passed on. CHAPTER XIV. A SHOT AND A QUICK DODGE. Drapwoop Dick had gone on, as.said, to the cottage. | Arriving there, he met the doctor and had a brief talk with him, after which he asked for Mr. Van Bascomb. The mine-manager appeared. There was a brighter look upon his face ‘decidedly. ‘‘IT suppose you have come to ask how my child is?” he spoke at once. ‘‘ Well, she is | trance by this means, but there was no fur- better, and will get well, the doctor assures “ Glad to hear that, sir. ask you that, and more. I am going to take hold of this thing and try to sift it.” ‘* Why, of course—” The manager caught himself. ‘* Yes,” Dick caught bim up, so that he might give nothing away to those who stood | detective, around. ‘‘ You see, my man has been char- ged with the deed, and believing him to be | swered Dick. the guilty one | not remains to be seen. I must clear my nnocent, lam going to find “Tsee. Well, it will please me if you In | when will you come in?” | trellis, which Dick had noticed before, but Yes, I came to | plainly apparent. ‘‘ Yes, so that no one may know anything ‘‘ It shall be done as you request. But, ‘* Some time during the evening, after the light in the room has been turned low, You can show me through the house now, so that I will know my way, and then leave a rear ‘¢T will be on hand to admit you.” ‘* Better still.” ‘ Dick was shown through the house, and the attempted assassination had taken place. One of the windows opened upon a porch, and at the end of the porch was a strong he had had no opportunity to examine close- Now that he could do so, acting as he was in the behalf of his man, he made a careful examination. ) While doing so he noted that he was watch- ed by McKnight and the Sparkler, from the piazza of the Hardscrabble Inn. ‘*T shall have to take care,” the Wild West Vidocq said to himself. He found that the assassin had gained en- ther clue, except that the person had been neither very large nor very heavy, two things Finally he took his leave and sauntered back to the hotel. : The Sparkler was there still, but now alone. She stopped him. ‘‘T understand you are going to play the sir?” she accosted. ‘‘Yes, it has been forced upon me,” an- ‘‘ Whether I shall succeed or man, if I can.” | ‘‘T saw you examining the porch roof and the trellis.” “Yes, that’s true.” ‘* You are free to do so, sir, [am sue ‘‘Do you think the assassin gained en- — trance that way?” ‘No doubt of it, I should say.” ‘Then of course you will remain on guard there to-night, and the window will be secured,” “T think not, madam. What’s the use? Certainly it won't be tried on again.” ‘‘You surprise me! I should think every precaution would de taken, now, fearful that another attempt might be made.” ‘Not at all likely, You see, if the rascal has left the camp he does not know that he did not make a good job of his dastardly work; if here, he will be afraid to try it again, for fear there will be watchers. oO, Miss Van Bascomb is justas safe without a guard around the house as with one.” ‘ Thad not thougbt of it in that light, sir. Fear will keep the rascal from trying it again; of course it will. But,do I under- stand that you have a clue to the man who made the attempt.” ‘Well, yes; I will not deny it; I think I have a clue, madam.” ‘‘ May lask where it points?” ‘‘T am not prepared to let that out yet, There is such a thing as a mistake, you know, possible to be made, and I don’t want to accuse the wrong person.” “That is true. Well, I certainly hope you will be able to place the crime where it be- longs, sir. Not that your man is anything to me, but such a deed cannot go un- avenged.” ‘‘My man is something to me, madam, and | I assure you that he shall not swing for an- a ee CCS ee 88 ee Ee __ >o>yN—yyyyyEr SO eee other’s crime if I can prevent it.” ‘‘That is your plain duty, sir, seeing that he is your pard. But, Mr. Strader, will you answer one question before you gor” ‘‘ What is it?” “Ig Mr. McKnight doing all he can to solve the mystery?’ ‘‘That is a question you had better ask him yourself, madam. He was here with you only a few minutes ago.” ‘‘T have a reason forasking you.” ‘‘ Well, he declared that to be his inten- tion.” ‘* And he has asked you to aid him?” ‘He said he would reward me handsome- ly if I would, and could bring the guilty one to account.”’ i woman's lips were set, and her face ale. | | | ‘‘That is all, sir,” she said. ‘‘ I suppose you are still determined not to offer me apology?” : ‘Let my answer to that be the same as: before. I will think about it. It is ask- ing a good deal, as I have already told you. Let’s attend to the more important matter first.” ‘This is important’ to me, sir. No one ever accused me of cheating before.” ‘“No one ever caught you before, per- haps.” | “Ha! you would push the insult down my throat? Have a “care, sir, how you ex- cite me!” 3 “Tam not going to deny that I thought I saw you cheat, for that would be to make a fool of myself. Ihave to admit that I did not prove it against you; 1 was allowed no chance.” “1 see you intend to make no apology.” ‘If I make one, it will be on that very line, madam.” . | “Which would be no apology at all. You have insulted me grossly!” in a loud tone. ‘* Take that!” Quick as a flash she drew a revolver, an fired point-blank at Deadwood Dick’s head. Her intention was plainly to kill him, but: her intention was not realized. MA CHAPTER XV. SOME PECULIAR MOVES. ] Ir was something for which Deadwood Dick was not looking, but all the same he geet ts et et ei